The charges involve the NASA Ames Research Center in California and apparently do not include operations in Houston.

According to Aviation Week, the congressmen, who are chairmen of the two House committees with NASA oversight, also contend a federal criminal probe into the charges was dropped under political pressure.

The Washington Times is reporting that the FBI has investigated the Ames Research Center for four years on the possible transfer of secret weapon-system technology to other countries, including China. Smith and Wolf cited unnamed sources accusing Ames Center employees of possibly violating International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).